As 'bright as the sun': Students describe house fire near Fanshawe College
As many as six students are displaced after a fire heavily damaged a home near Fanshawe College.
The blaze broke out in a back split at the end of the Prosperity Court.
Gillian Gilmore and Victoria Ashley live nearby and were alerted by approaching fire trucks.
“I could hear the sirens, and I thought that’s really close,” explained Gilmore. “So I looked out front and said, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I ran out front and saw the big flames in the air. It seems like it was the sun! That’s how bright the flames were!”
“It just felt like a heavy blanket almost coming over the street,” shared Ashley.
More than 25 firefighters and a half dozen engines arrived moments later.
Several tenants were outside to meet them. All were unharmed, according to Platoon Chief Kirk Loveland.
London fire crews responded to a call on Prosperity Court around 10 p.m. on April 15, 2024. (Source: London fire)Still, he told CTV News London, firefighters entered the home to ensure no one else was inside.
“Fortunately, they had working smoke alarms and they all escaped.”
Loveland said the residence is heavily damaged and estimated the loss between $400,000 to $500,000.
The blaze started on the east side of the home.
“We determined that the fire started on the exterior. It had combustible siding on the side, which accelerated the fire spread,” said Loveland.
The initial speed of the flames and smoke was a growing concern for nearby residents, including Fanshawe student Kolapo Bankole.
“There was just a lot of commotion, and we were concerned it was going to head towards the next building, but thankfully that didn’t happen.”
The fire is not considered suspicious.
The displaced students are receiving support from the Red Cross and other agencies.
London fire crews responded to a call on Prosperity Court in London on April 15, 2024. (Source: London fire)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
At least 9 dead in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after severe weather roars across region
Powerful storms killed at least nine people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where drivers took shelter during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
As Canada warms, infectious disease risks spread north
Cases of Lyme disease have now increased more than 1,000 per cent in a decade as the warming climate pushes the boundaries of a range of pathogens and risk factors northward.